Untitled 1

Many of you will have seen the changes to the livery etc. Check the link below for more information.

Arriva Cymru 697 on route 67 Bangor and 2656 working the 62 to Amlwch on December 16th and caught on camera by Malcolm Crowe.
Strangely for a company operating in the North Wales area Arriva do use the welsh language???!!!

A major change has been announced by the group for colours and logos as readers can see from the new logo and colours effective January 2018. Indeed buses are now returning from repaint in the new colours and there are many based in our area.

Citaro 3918 seen in HIGH WYCOMBE BUS STATION as early as October 21st by Gavin Francis.

The small batch of Citaros transferred to High Wycombe from Milton Keynes has at last been repainted in the new livery.

3925 working The One from High Wycombe on October 3rd and 3927 fresh from repaint at Cressex depot on January 19th both by Gavin Francis.
This does present a much better image for the company in this area.

Talking about The One an agreement has been reached between Arriva and Carousel to revert to the original joint arrangement.

The inter-availability route 1 operated by Arriva and Carousel is "back in business and timetables can be found at the link below.

One ticket, any bus! Buy a return ticket on any Arriva 1/1A bus and use it to return on any Carousel 1/1A service.

So the two companies have made a great job of this and the One is a truly joint service again.

Adam Green writes "I have some photos of our Mini Buses in Hemel Hempstead all run on the 2,3,4 & 5 all Hemel town route and they run them on the 657 & 34 in the Evening from St Albans City Station."

Mercedes mini buses 1004, 1006 and 1020 at Hemel Hempstead on November 5th by Adam Green

1101 on allocated route 5 on November 6th by Adam Green.

Further pictures of these buses taken by Gavin Francis will be found lower down this page.

Nigel Peach writes "High Wycombe depot has some newcomers: 3866 (KE05FMO) has returned as you reported. I'm sure the reason that this particular bus was sent back to Wycombe was because of its registration number!! In about 1950 a number of Thames Valley K, KS and KSW double deckers had FMO registrations, as did some LL single deckers, many of them based at Wycombe.
3537 (LN02 PNY) is a DAF from Southern Counties, seen on Wycombe routes some weeks ago.
3700 (BF52 OAE) is another DAF latterly at Telford depot, also on Wycombe routes some weeks ago. However according to lists this vehicle is 3718, so presumably renumbered, but why?!
I wonder if these three are loans?

The 5 Milton Keynes Platinum Citaros (3925-9) have been repainted, a high priority. Indeed I saw 3928 this week and it is now in the new Arriva livery, so I suspect the above may have been covering for these.

Finally something that puzzles me and I wonder if any of your readers can answer?
As you know there are 12 Citaros (3007-18) branded for the 800/850 Reading routes. Of these, 3014 seems to always be on route 37 (Bourne End/Maidenhead). I'm sure it's been on that route every day in recent weeks.
Why always 3014?!

I mentioned 3537 below. Here's a picture of it at Cressex on 3rd December. The legal ownership says Arriva Kent and Surrey. I've just read the November changes from the website mentioned below:

http://wmbusphotos.com/Fleetchanges/ArrivaMidlands.html

Here they are: 2491; 2496; 2497 Milton Keynes - Midlands (being refurbished).

2744 Cannock - Telford
2981 Shrewsbury - Telford
3705 High Wycombe - Telford
3718 Telford - High Wycombe
3754 Telford - Shrewsbury
3866; 3867 Cannock - High Wycombe
4200 returned to Tamworth after repaint
3729 converted to driver trainer 9550 at Thurmaston
3731 Milton Keynes - Midlands (driver trainer conversion)
3747 High Wycombe - Aylesbury

"Some interesting items there: I believe 2491/6/7 all spent time on the Wycombe Thame route in the past. 2491/2 delivered new, but replaced by 2496/7 if I remember correctly because they were underpowered!So 3718 (now 3700) has replaced 3705 which has returned home. I'd wondered if it had gone as I'd not seen it for ages.3866 and 3867 back in Wycombe. I've not seen 3867 yet.
(I wonder if we'll end up getting all those Volvos back in due course!)
So another MCV Evolution has gone (3747), leaving just 3 of the original 7 still around (3743/4/6). Somebody did tell me they were unpopular buses.

Now High Wycombe have got at least three more double deckers - all from Aylesbury and all ALX 400 DAFs from the same batch as are currently at the depot.
They are 6305 Y526 UCG6309 Y509 UCG and 6310 Y527 UCG The registration numbers are rather confusing because none of the buses in that large batch have a "0" or "5" at the end of their registration number (if that makes sense). I wonder if they have replaced the last three MCV Evolutions 3743/4/6. I've not seen any of them lately?"

Tony Bungay writes " Aylesbury appears to have at least two Wright bodied Double Deckers, 4021 UUI2951 (LJ51DFY - VLW14 when in London) and 4022 UUI2950 (LJ51DFX - VLW13 when in London) both regulars on the 102 from Brent Cross to Edmonton.

4021 is seen in Aylesbury on 300 on January 19th and the 50, though the destination was not caught by camera on January 16th. 4022 was again seen on the 50 in Wendover on January 12th and the outskirts of Aylesbury same day. Unfortunately most photos were taken on very dreary January Days!! Except for 4021 on January 16th."

These buses came from Wigston with their UUI registrations. The 102 is now operated by T class ADL Buses, still between seven and ten years old!!

Sadly, as inevitably happens, the blind did not come out. 4019working the X30 along West Wycombe Road on January 19th by Gavin Francis
Whenever I have seen the X30 it has been single deck worked. Ed.

3019 works tne 300 leaving Wycombe Bus Station on February 2nd by Malcolm Crowe.

3618, still with remnants of the old branding visible, with a 37 working in Wycombe Bus Station on February 2nd by Malcolm Crowe

MCV 3746, one of the few remaining at Wycombe is seen with a 30 working in Wycombe Bus Station on February 2nd by Malcolm Crowe

Citaro 3923 with the X30 in Wycombe Bus Station on February 2nd by Malcolm Crowe

Ex MK Platinum 3927, looking much improved arrives, with a 74 working, in Wycombe Bus Station on February 2nd by Malcolm Crowe

DAF/ALX400 6302 works the 31 leaving Wycombe Bus Station on February 2nd by Malcolm Crowe

StreetLite 2526 works the 30 near Hughenden Avenue, Downley on January 29th by Gavin Francis.

Aylesbury's 2297 giving limited capacity working the 500 in HEMEL HEMPSTEAD on November 23rd by Gavin Francis.

Aylesbury's 6460 working the 500 in HEMEL HEMPSTEAD on November 23rd by Gavin Francis.

ADL MMC 6522 YX17NEUU works the 758 posed in Bulleid Way London on February 2nd taken by Gavin Francis - and branded for the 320!
One wonders if the ladies mentioned on the new 758 coaches were off that day or will there be complaints again?

Arriva Southern Counties 4185 KX62JJO on the 500 in HEMEL HEMPSTEAD on November 23rd Gavin Francis - branded for the 10, a Watford service.

Arriva Southern Counties 1004 from the rear working route 5 in HEMEL HEMPSTEAD on November 23rd by Gavin Francis

Two the new buses with 1005 on the 4 in HEMEL HEMPSTEAD on November 23rd by Gavin Francis

1007 on the 5, showing the nearside view, in HEMEL HEMPSTEAD on November 23rd by Gavin Francis

4375 works a 758 service in Hemel on November 23rd by Gavin Francis. The destination is interesting as there is no longer a "bus station" in the town.
Of the five Van Hools first used on the 758 only three now remain in service.

ASC 6042 works the 500 in HEMEL HEMPSTEAD on November 23rd by Gavin Francis - this bus was once a regular on the LT 137.

ASC 6043 this time working the 101 in HEMEL HEMPSTEAD on November 23rd by Gavin Francis.

ASC 6049 ex London DW79 works the 500 through HEMEL HEMPSTEAD on November 23rd by Gavin Francis - this bus was often seen on the LT 159.